Vector 52: Team building with Don Melton

Vector is a news and analysis show focusing on the biggest stories, hottest trends, and most important issues in technology, past, present, and future. On this week's show, Don Melton, former director of internet technology at Apple, talks to Rene about team building, what characteristics are most and least important, and how to get monumental tasks accomplished.

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Vector 52: Team building with Don Melton

As an old style, people, manager here's what I know: Over time it's talented, professional, and committed, people who make the great products. And the great orgs.

The best are also the likeliest disruptors.

Those who can do disruption often don't need an org, but an org better figure out a way let the best do their best. Or get disrupted. I think Apple knows this and, especially now, in the Cook era.

Today Apple needs to build a reason, other than simple quanty growth, to keep its base interested, a base that will soon number a billion credit card carrying adults globally. Just as critically, Apple need a reason to keep its reputation as a workplace where the best can be who they are, the next Mickey Mantles. If Apple loses them, it loses the game.

Apple sees these needs and its limits clearly. How do we know? It's hiring folks who can fashion its brand to thrive within lowered quant valuation. Think Mercedes. And again, as much for the internal needs as external.